<!--
There is a new move node in the layout xml that we have access to in M2.
This node sets the declared block or container element as a child of another
element in the specified order.
-->
<!-- EXAMPLE -->
<move element="name.of.an.element" destination="name.of.destination.element" as="new_alias" after="name.of.element.after" before="name.of.element.before"/>
<!-- In the example you provided before you should just be able to call: -->
<move element="store.settings.language" destination="header.container" as="store_settings_language"/>